Build Haiti’s Local Capacity for Disaster Response During Week-Long Training in Northern Haiti

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) facilitated Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) training to twenty-five volunteer first responders in Haiti this week to help build Haitian local capacity for disaster response, USAR experts from Fairfax County (VA) and Los Angeles County (CA) trained first responders from fire departments throughout the West Department from July 12-18, 2010. Those selected to attend the specialized training – nine from Cap-Haitien, eight from Carrefour, six from Limbe, two from St. Marc, and one from Delmas – are all volunteer firefighters.

Washington D.C. - This week, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) gathered many of the world’s leading scientists and development thinkers, along with leaders of key federal science agencies to help map out a bold new Science, Technology and Innovation strategy for USAID. The conference, entitled “Transforming Development Through Science Technology and Innovation” was the first step in helping USAID to identify “grand challenges” and explore how science, technology, and innovation can be used to solve them.

GUATEMALA CITY, 13 JULY, 2010. Director of the USAID Mission in Guatemala, Wayne R. Nilsestuen, was awarded the country's highest honor, the Order of the Quetzal, in a ceremony on July 13. The Minister of Exterior Relations, Ambassador Haroldo Rodas Melgar, represented the Guatemalan Government and presented the award in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Stephen G. McFarland and other members of the diplomatic corps, Government of Guatemala officials, representatives of donor agencies, and USAID staff and partners.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah released the following statement on the six-month commemoration of the 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010:

"Today, we pause to reflect on the tragedy that struck Haiti six months ago and claimed the lives of more than 230,000 people. In the wake of the devastation, countless more were left injured and 1.5 million were displaced and moved into spontaneous settlements across greater Port-au-Prince.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI - Just before the six-month commemoration of the earthquake that struck Haiti last January, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), traveled to Haiti today to see relief and recovery projects, speak with civil society members, review the progress of USAID's efforts and meet with U.S., Haitian, UN and NGO leaders. As part of the visit, Dr. Shah also met with Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, who is also co-chairman of the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC).

Washington, D.C. - In response to the deadly overnight attack on the compound of Development Alternatives, Inc., a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) implementing partner in Afghanistan, USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah has issued the following statement:

Washington, D.C. - Today, Dr. Rajiv Shah, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator, met with the United Kingdom's (UK) Secretary of International Development Andrew Mitchell, marking Shah's first meeting with the UK's new coalition government leadership.

WASHINGTON D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development has won the 2010 Communicator Awards Gold Award of Excellence for a video on the problems faced by miners working with alluvial diamonds in the Central African Republic and a USAID program that helps them find solutions through technology and training.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - June 18, 2010 - In a speech before the National Press Club today, Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), emphasized the importance of modernizing development assistance.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has pledged $1.2 million in support for national poliomyelitis (polio) vaccination campaigns across Central Asia to fight the first outbreak of polio in the region since 2002.

"Working together we can, and must, make sure that each child is immunized and thus protected from polio," said Deputy Regional Director of the USAID Mission for Central Asia Erin E. McKee about this initiative.

USAID Partners With the American Academy of Pediatrics, Laerdal Medical AS and others to Help Reduce Infant Mortality in the Developing World

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding this week with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Laerdal Medical AS, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and Save the Children.

Washington, DC - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has made its first award under the new Emergency Food Security Program. This nearly $5 million grant to Mercy Corps, a U.S. non-governmental organization, will help them assist 130,000 individuals affected by drought by providing them with locally purchased food and vouchers for the purchase of food in local markets.

WASHINGTON D.C. - The United States supports international efforts to facilitate peace and order in the Kyrgyz Republic and the affected border regions of Uzbekistan and supports the provision of humanitarian assistance coordinated by the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. As a key part of these efforts, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided $24.6 Million to assist the people of the Kyrgyz Republic during this humanitarian crisis.

WASHINGTON, DC - Today at the announcement of the 2010 World Food Prize winners, Secretary Hillary Clinton, Secretary Tom Vilsack and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah outlined the Feed the Future research strategy, which includes a new partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Washington, D.C. - This week in Kabul, Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) terminated 10 employees including several engineers and other staff members after months of investigation. DAI Afghanistan is a contractor with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Ten thousand people around the globe took part in a recent on-line brainstorming event organized by the U.S. Agency for International Development. USAID hosted Global Pulse 2010 from March 29-31 to generate discussion of critical global issues and ideas. According to a just-completed analysis people from nearly every country on earth logged on.

Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will discuss the Haiti recovery effort as the six-month anniversary of the earthquake approaches, including both success stories and remaining challenges.